Page 5 of Jared

Can't let them get mad. Open, open.

Jared parted his lips and opened his mouth. Chris patted his cheek. “Good lad.” Jared closed his eyes. Twin streams hit his face this time, hitting his cheeks, some going into his nose, splashing his split lip causing it to sting, and seeping into his open mouth. He continued to cry, his sobs shaking his body as hard as his sobs were soft. It took less than a minute and then he heard the rustle of clothing shifting about as the two men tucked themselves back in. Something dropped onto his lap. He looked down at it. A twenty dollar bill. His humiliation was now complete.

“It was good, thanks. Maybe we'll see you again,” Chris taunted before turning to head out of the alley. “Let's go. Somebody might come.” They walked quickly away, Joe's shoulder hitching as he struggled to zip his jeans back up as he hurried away. Jared looked down at the money on his lap, unable to believe what had just happened to him. One corner looked especially dark where it kissed the pale skin of his stomach.

Wait. My stomach. Hey, my shirt's ripped. Great. I don't have that many clothes to go out in, and this was my favorite. Must've torn when they dragged me. Huh. Perfect ending to a what should have been a really perfect day for reals. He stuffed a fist into his mouth, curled up onto himself and slid down onto his side. There's trash and God knows what on the ground here. I'm by a dumpster. He dropped his hand from his mouth and grasped his shirt closed with both hands, one at the top of shirt, the other gripping three quarters of the way down. This somehow made him feel even more naked and vulnerable. He cried harder.

He didn't hear the footsteps but became suddenly aware that someone was looming over him.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please, don't do any more.”

The man knelt down beside him. “Hey, it's okay, man. I'm not whoever that was. Let me see if you're all right, please?”

This was someone new. He was taller than either Chris or Joe, and appeared less bulky. Jared registered sleek muscles on the arm that reached out towards him.

Jared peered up through the tears still threatening to spill from his eyes. “I- I thought you were those guys. Are they gone? Please, I need to go home.”

The strange feeling of detachment began to settle back over Jared. This time it was different though. The man's presence was reassuring somehow.

I'm okay. I did what they said, and they left.And someone came. This guy came. I'm definitely okay. He's helping me.

Jared let go. He idly registered the man's eyes flashing a bright gold and asking him his name. He answered on autopilot.

Teeth? What about my teeth? He ran his tongue over them. Yeah, I got all my teeth. He began to shiver violently. It's gotten so cold. Oh yeah, my shirt's ripped. But it's summer. Why is it suddenly so cold?

The man was still speaking and someone was answering him from very far away.

Sounds just like me. Jared stared in wonder as the man's eyes gleamed again the dim light. It was as if there was something in there behind them, peering out as Jared. The man's mouth was moving.

Oh! That was me. What was I saying? God, I'm so stupid.

The man's hands moved as if to support him as he moved to stand. Jared decided this was probably a good idea.

Get outta here in case they come back.

He didn't notice the money had fallen onto the ground. One moment he registered himself moving up from the ground. The next was a tide of darkness washing over him as his overwhelmed psyche simply gave up.

2

Steve caught Jared as he crumpled.

Shit, shit, shit.

He moved to get a better grip on his mate, then turned him about in order to lift him. Holding him close, he sniffed the air and cast his gaze about, hoping to catch more clues that might better identify the men. There, on the ground. He moved his foot to toe it. There was money on the ground. He frowned. Had this been a mugging gone even more wrong?

“Steve? What's wrong? Your wolf...” Jeff's voice trailed off. He stood stock still at the corner of the building, Tim visible just behind, both men raising their noses slightly into the air and sniffing.

Steve's hackles rose as his wolf took in the sight of his two pack mates standing at the mouth of the alley.

“Mine,” he growled.

Tim and Jeff moved apart so that they were both clearly visible and moved their arms and hands out placatingly.

“Okay, yours,” Jeff agreed.

“Yours,” Tim agreed. Both men bared their necks slightly as they spoke.

Steve clutched Jared tighter, bringing him closer to his chest.